the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

I have been searching for a teacher of Wu Taiji in NYC for the past week, and I have narrowed it down to two instructors: Benjamin Wu and Tina C. Zhang. Has anyone trained with one or both of them? I would love to hear experiences of teaching methods. Wondering if their instruction is all forms or if martial applications, push hands, and fajin generation are part of their curriculum.

I've never met or heard of either, but I'd be interested to know how you narrowed it down.

I asked around and those were the only two names that came up for Wu Taiji in NYC, unfortunately.

Tina Zhang (with Frank Allen) - Wu taiji (from Beijing). They teach bagua, xingyi, etc. also.
There are students of Leung Shum teaching his Wu taiji (from Hong Kong) in NYC also. They teach eagle claw also.
I think that there is a branch teaching Wang Peisheng's Wu style (from Beijing) in NYC also. They also teach bagua, tongbei, etc.
No idea about Benjamin Wu.

But the top three should be quite interested in the martial aspects.

If you're interested in HK Wu, I'd recommend checking out his student's classes, though he also teaches some Yang stuff. PS 42 (ground floor) 71 Hester Street between Ludlow & Orchard St. on Tuesdays. Check them all out, though, and see which ones suit you. Don't rely too much on the internet opinions because they'll always be contradictory.

Black Taoist pushing against Benjamin Wu. BT should be quite good, I don’t think he is trying to be polite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju9zgkJC9T8

That's one of the first push hands clips done by people I don't know that I've seen in years (or maybe it just feels like years) that was worth watching. Nice!

Anyone train with any of the Wu Taiji instructors (Tina Zhang, Lenny Aaron from Leung Shum's, Benjamin Wu, or Wang Peisheng's students) named in this thread?

All arms no body

All mouth, no trousers.

All the girlies coming out to play
U know when you started doing BJJ I thought u might man up
Still nothing but snide little quibbles

I've realised over time that when I say things that I think are funny, "kung fu guys" get offended (but obviously they will shout "I'm not offended!") because they have zero sense of humour and thin skins. They're usually overly serious about everything and just interpret my humerous little quips as condescending. They're not meant to be. You don't have to get all offended. Just banter back!

Unfortunately, there's no cure for stupid. (Edit: Damn, I've done it again, haven't I?)

GrahamB wrote:I've realised over time that when I say things that I think are funny, "kung fu guys" get offended (but obviously they will shout "I'm not offended!") because they have zero sense of humour and thin skins. They're usually overly serious about everything and just interpret my humerous little quips as condescending. They're not meant to be. You don't have to get all offended. Just banter back!

SAY IT AGAIN LOUDER FOR THE ONES IN THE BACK!

The good times just go right over their head.

wayne hansen wrote:All arms no body

More true of BT, certainly. I guess you are referring to him? The Wu style guy is making plenty use of waist and kua, solving the problems 'upstairs' with responses 'downstairs'. BT is trying to rely more on tricks and tactics, the other guy is generally following with the whole body. What BT then later appreciatively describes as "Some of that high level shit. ... Going along for the ride." (i.e. yield, stick, follow). I like what the Wu style guy does, respect!, but in that sense it's more like solid medium-level. Very nice to see, anyway.

No I was referring to the Wu style guy
All indépendant arm action